Bucs Ink CB Buckley To One-Year Deal

Jim Flynn

07/08/2002

July 8 – Tampa Bay has signed several big-name free agents to its offense this offseason, but on Monday, the Buccaneers added depth and competition to its defensive secondary by signing cornerback Terrell Buckley to a one-year contract. Buckley received his first Super Bowl ring last season with the New England Patriots and signed with Tampa Bay in hopes of winning another championship.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed free agent cornerback Terrell Buckley to a one-year contract on Monday. The Lions and Dolphins were also interested Buckley's services, but he said he wanted to go to the team he felt had the best chance of winning a Super Bowl.

"This is a similar situation to last year, looking at the team, looking at the schedule, seeing where they were last year and what type of improvements they've made," said Buckley. "The opportunity to win a Super Bowl and be World Champions is right there."

Buckley (5-9, 176) won the first Super Bowl of his career last season with the New England Patriots. He served as the Patriots' nickel corner behind starting corners Ty Law and Otis Smith. Buckley played in 15 games with New England last season and posted 26 tackles, three interceptions and defended seven passes. Buckley added five tackles, one interception and a fumble recovery during New England's playoff and Super Bowl run.

The former Florida State Seminole entered the NFL in 1992 as a first-round draft choice of the Green Bay Packers. After three seasons with the Packers, Buckley played the next five seasons (1995-1999) with the Miami Dolphins. He spent 2000 in Denver and then signed with New England in 2001.

Buckley, 31, has started 124 of the 157 games he has played in and posted 395 tackles, 41 interceptions, 140 passes defensed, eight forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, five touchdowns and two sacks during his 10-year career.

One of the reasons Buckley signed with Tampa Bay is because he's played for eight playoff teams in 10 seasons. While he may or may not be a good luck charm, Buckley likes his odds of adding another playoff appearance to that statistic while playing for the Bucs.

"It's a great opportunity," said Buckley of joining the Buccaneers. "I live in Florida, my family's here and this is a Super Bowl team. I feel like the new additions they've made, from the head coach down to Keenan McCardell, have really improved the team. They've always been a playoff team."

Buckley will join and compete with Tampa Bay starting corners Ronde Barber and Brian Kelly as well as second-year CB Dwight Smith. While Buckley can fill in a starter, he's better suited as a nickel back. Smith appears to be penciled in as the team's nickel corner, but he was impressive during Tampa Bay's mini-camps and could challenge Kelly for a starting job.

In addition to being a veteran corner, Buckley is a frequent visitor on Jim Rome's national radio show and certainly will bring more national attention to the Buccaneers.

Buckley will sport jersey No. 24.

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